Amasia, or, The Works of the Muses A Collection of Poems. In Three Volumes. By Mr John Hopkins |
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Written to Amasia.
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Amasia, or, The Works of the Muses | ||
Written to Amasia.
[As Men untry'd stand shiv'ring on the shore]
As Men untry'd stand shiv'ring on the shore,And wish, impatient, the first plunge were o'er;
Till at the last—
Boy'd up with fancy'd hopes they shall not sink,
Headlong they leap, and leaping Spurn the brink.
So, doubting long, the ruin'd Sylvius stood,
So plung'd—
But void of hope, down Love's impetuous Flood.
Others by Waters may, unskill'd, expire;
More fierce my wreck; I'm lost in Seas of Fire.
With me, as with some wretch pursu'd, it fares,
Oceans before, behind him Swords and Spears.
Bold does he plunge, or tamely yielding dies;
Easy his fate, or if he stands or flies,
But oh! what Sword—
What Spear can pierce like bright Amasia's Eyes?
98
All I can be, depends alone on you,
You know I Love you, too, too well I do.
Love with the humblest Passion, yet so high,
That but your scorn can with that Passion vye;
Unhappy Passion! thrice unhappy I!
Ill has the Partial hand of chance assign'd
Fortunes too slender, but too large a Mind.
By this the greatness of my Soul I prove,
I Love with more than with a Mortal Love.
Yet you, the fair, imperious Charmer, you,
Will not believe those Vows I offer true.
Too mean the Captive, and Obscure the Prize;
Under unhappy Stars that Lover lies,
Where Beauty Conquers, and where Pride denies.
In vain the proof of my pretence you shun;
You needs must see what your own Eyes have done.
But to convince you of the pangs I bear,
O do not see alone, but see, and hear.
Hear, tho' you never make the least return,
Hear me declare how I shall ever burn.
Amasia, or, The Works of the Muses | ||